Mallorca Planer · Independent travel guide

Mallorca in the rain: caves, museums, the cathedral and market halls

A rainy day in Mallorca is not a lost day. The island has caves, one of the great Gothic cathedrals and enough museums and market halls to fill even two wet days well.

Updated on 2/10/20263 min read22 Sources

Photo: Javier Pérez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

In short

There is plenty to do in Mallorca when it rains: the caves near Porto Cristo, Canyamel and Campanet, and in Palma the cathedral, La Seu, museums such as Es Baluard and the Fundació Miró, and the Mercat de l'Olivar market hall. Even in October, the wettest month, AEMET counts an average of only 6.7 rainy days in Palma.

Key points

In October it rains in Palma on an average of 6.7 days, and in July on 0.7 days.
According to the operator, the Caves of Drach near Porto Cristo extend for close to 1,200 metres and hold Lake Martel.
The Es Baluard museum in Palma opened on 30 January 2004.
The Mercat de l'Olivar in Palma is a covered market hall on two floors, inaugurated in 1951.
In heavy rain, gorges such as the Torrent de Pareis and mountain hikes are off limits.

On this page

How often it really rains in Mallorca
Caves: the classic rainy-day plan
Palma: cathedral and museums
Market halls in Palma
Under cover outside Palma
What to avoid in the rain
Frequently asked questions

1How often it really rains in Mallorca

The AEMET climate normals for Palma show that even in the wet season rain is not a permanent state. In October, the wettest month, an average of 69 mm falls over 6.7 rainy days. In November it is 6.4 days, in December 6.5 and in January 5.8. From June to August it rains on fewer than two days a month on average.

In practice, keep one or two indoor options ready and swap your days according to the forecast. All the months are under best time to visit.

2Caves: the classic rainy-day plan

Underground, the weather does not matter. The well-known show caves in Mallorca include these four:

Caves of Drach near Porto Cristo: a cave system with Lake Martel that, according to the operator, extends horizontally for close to 1,200 metres. The visit typically ends with a short classical concert.
Coves dels Hams, about one kilometre west of Porto Cristo: discovered in 1905, also with an underground lake.
Coves d'Artà near Canyamel in the municipality of Capdepera: the exit is about 50 metres above the sea, on a staircase built in 1860 for the visit of Queen Isabella II.
Coves de Campanet in the north, on the southern slope of Puig de Sant Miquel: a circuit of close to 500 metres which, according to the operator, takes about 40 minutes.

On rainy days many people have the same idea. Come early or book a tour with timed entry under day trips and activities.

3Palma: cathedral and museums

Palma is the best place to be when it rains, because everything is close together.

La Seu cathedral: Gothic, with a nave 44 metres high and a rose window of nearly 14 metres. Antoni Gaudí reworked the interior between 1903 and 1914.
La Almudaina: the royal palace directly opposite, originally an Arab fortress.
Es Baluard: the museum of modern and contemporary art, opened on 30 January 2004.
Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró: the studio that the architect Josep Lluís Sert built for Joan Miró, and the museum building by Rafael Moneo that opened in 1992.
Museu de Mallorca: the history and art of the island in a 16th-century town house in the old town, open since 1976.
Palau March: an art museum near the cathedral, home of the Fundació Bartolomé March.
Palma Aquarium: 500 metres from Platja de Palma.

4Market halls in Palma

The weekly markets in the villages are held in the open air and have little appeal in the rain. Palma has covered market halls instead. The Mercat de l'Olivar on Plaça de l'Olivar was inaugurated in 1951 and is spread over two floors. The Mercat de Santa Catalina, in the district of the same name, dates from 1920 and mainly sells fruit, vegetables, fish and meat, with bars as well.

The other markets on the island are covered under markets.

5Under cover outside Palma

Valldemossa Charterhouse: Frédéric Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838 to 1839 in one of its cells. It is now a museum with Chopin's Pleyel piano.
Santuari de Lluc: the place of pilgrimage at 525 metres in the municipality of Escorca, the spiritual centre of the island.
Els Calderers: a former manor house in the municipality of Sant Joan, now a museum with rooms in their original furnishings.
Tren de Sóller: the historic train from Palma to Sóller runs through 13 tunnels and is a pleasant ride even under a grey sky.

On mountain roads in the wet, drive slowly and allow more time.

6What to avoid in the rain

Heavy rain in Mallorca often falls in a short time. The island's torrents are dry most of the year and then fill quickly. Three rules follow from that:

In rain or under a rain warning, stay out of gorges such as the Torrent de Pareis and do not cross stream beds.
Postpone mountain hikes in the Serra de Tramuntana. Wet limestone is slippery.
Check the AEMET weather warnings before every outing.

Frequently asked questions

How often does it rain in Mallorca?

According to AEMET, in Palma it rains on an average of 6.7 days in October, the wettest month, on 6.4 days in November and on 5.8 days in January. In July it is 0.7 days. The annual total is 449 mm.

Which caves can you visit in Mallorca when it rains?

Well-known show caves include these four: the Caves of Drach and the Coves dels Hams near Porto Cristo in the east, the Coves d'Artà near Canyamel in the municipality of Capdepera, and the Coves de Campanet in the north. They can get busy on rainy days, so come early.

What can you do in Palma de Mallorca when it rains?

In Palma the rainy-day sights are close together: the cathedral, La Seu, the Royal Palace of La Almudaina opposite, the Es Baluard art museum, the Museu de Mallorca in the old town and Palau March. Add to that the market halls of Mercat de l'Olivar and Mercat de Santa Catalina.

Which museums in Palma de Mallorca are worth it on a rainy day?

For modern art, Es Baluard and the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró with the painter's studio. For history, the Museu de Mallorca in a 16th-century town house. Palau March, an art museum, is also close to the cathedral.

Can you go hiking in Mallorca in the rain?

In light rain, easy paths on the coast or in the flat country are possible. In heavy rain or under a warning, postpone mountain routes in the Serra de Tramuntana and stay out of gorges such as the Torrent de Pareis, because the torrents fill quickly.

What do you do in Mallorca with children when it rains?

With children, good choices are Palma Aquarium, one of the caves near Porto Cristo with its underground lake, and the ride on the historic train from Palma to Sóller. Bellver Castle in Palma can also be visited between two showers.

Which month has the least rain in Mallorca?

July has the least rain. AEMET gives an average of 6 mm of rainfall and 0.7 rainy days for Palma. June with 11 mm and August with 22 mm are dry as well. October brings the most rain, with 69 mm.

Sources (22)